Indigenous energy resources only cover Switzerland’s needs until 17 April. As of Tuesday, Switzerland will live, so to speak, on credit until the end of the year, depending on the import of oil, gas and uranium. April 17 therefore marks Switzerland’s Energy Independence Day this year. The energy transition is a chance to push back this date a little more each year, writes the Swiss Energy Foundation (SES) in a press release.
According to the latter, more than 70% of energy is imported, including all products derived from petroleum, natural gas and nuclear fuels. Each year, Switzerland spends an average of 8 billion francs on their importation. In 2022, this sum even rose to 13 billion.
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A 10% improvement in 20 years
With an energy independence rate of 29.7% in 2021, Switzerland is rather at the bottom of the European ranking, in 18th place out of 24. The top of the table is occupied by Latvia (98.6%), Iceland (84.8%) and Sweden (78.8%). Conversely, Malta (2.9%), Luxembourg (7.5%) and Cyprus (10.5%) bring up the rear.
The SES recalls that Switzerland has steadily improved its energy independence over the past two decades, rising from around 20% in 2001 to almost 30% in 2021. And to add that, according to calculations, the decarbonization in the building and mobility sectors as well as the phase-out of nuclear power will make it possible to push back the date of energy independence until October.
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